Page 70 - Computer Power User - February 2017

Super Bowl LI & Tech

America’s Game Gets Fan-Friendly Upgrades

efore and after Super Bowl 50 was
B played last year in Levi’s Stadium in
the San Francisco Bay Area, experts cited
the game as the most technology-driven
Super Bowl ever. Expect that distinction
to be short-lived. When Super Bowl LI
kicks off Feb. 5 in Houston at NRG
Stadium, it’s practically a given that
technology will make a greater presence,
including in terms of wireless connectivity
available at NRG, how viewers at home
will watch the game, and how everyone
will share their experiences socially.
Really, though, technology is altering
seemingly every aspect of the NFL and
sports in general. NFL-specific examples
of how include players and coaches now
using Microsoft Surface tablets instead
of printed photos on the sidelines to At Super Bowl 50 last year at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, a record-breaking 10.1TB
review plays, players adopting VR to of Wi-Fi usage was recorded. Largely to meet fans’ growing in-stadium expectations, the National
improve performance, and the NFL itself Football League has worked to upgrade connectivity in all its stadiums.
spearheading a movement to bolster the
wireless networks in every NFL stadium
to meet fans’ growing “connectivity
everywhere” expectations.
“With tickets at premium prices, it’s
hard to ask fans to pay to spend time
in a place where they can’t use their
phones,” says Paul Kapustka, editor of
Mobile Sports Report, about the growing
importance Wi-Fi, mobile apps, and
other technologies have assumed. “For
many fans and teams, good connectivity
is just table stakes.” Among other
things, the improvements are making
parking easier, helping fans navigate
to and around stadiums, and enabling
such digital ticketing options as easily
transferring tickets to friends or family.
NFL teams are also experimenting with
letting fans order food from their mobile
devices, complete with in-seat delivery; Prior to this past NFL regular season, Houston’s NRG Stadium, which is hosting this year’s Super Bowl
upgrade tickets and purchase game-day LI, lacked a Wi-Fi network for fans. For the Super Bowl, 1,260 access points will reportedly be in place
experiences (think live meetups with to support fans’ wireless usage, which essentially has doubled with each Super Bowl.
players); and use stadium-specific apps

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